Table top



P 1935. G; F. CORDUAN 2,013,135

TABLE TOP Filed July 15, 1954 Ina/211131 [brazzazz Patented Sept. 3, 1935 PATENT FFICE TABLE TOP Gustave F. @orduan, Chicago, lll.

Application July 13,

9 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and use ful improvements in tables, and more particularly to an improved table top assembly especially adapted for small tables provided with folding legs, such as card tables.

More specifically the invention relates to a table of this type that is constructed almost entirely of sheet metal, with the exception of the flat table top which may be formed of fibrous material. The invention is more particularly concerned with an improved means for securing the table top to the metallic supporting frame.

A fibrous table top has numerous advantages in that it is economical, light in weight, has sounddeadening properties and may be made ornamental, but a top made of this material is apt to shrink and become loose and unsecured and then warp. According to the present invention the top is'held in place by an improved channeled binding strip which encloses a sufficient portion of the edge of the top-to permit the top to shrink without becoming disengaged. The binding strip is made in mating sections which are first assembled with the table top and are then easily secured to the metallic supporting frame of the table so as to hold the table top firmly and rigidly in position and provide asubstantially smooth upper surface on the table.

The general object of this invention is to provide an improved table construction such as briefly described hereinabove and disclosed more in detail in the specifications which follow.

Another object is to provide an improved form of top assembly for a card table. 1

Another object is to provide an improved means for securing the table top to the metallic supporting frame of the table.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of an improved table constructed according to the principles of this invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective View of the assembled table in erected position.

Fig; 2 is an enlarged bottom plan view of one corner portion of the table.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of a portion of the table-top with a binding strip assembled thereon.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the bind ing strips, broken away intermediate its ends.

The table here shown by way of example has i the usual square top, although it will be apparent 1934, Serial No. 734,963

as the disclosure progresses that the table might be made rectangular, octagonal or of any other suitable formby making apparent changes in the contour and proportions of certain of the parts. The table comprises in general the sideframes A, the legs B, the struts or braces C, the cross-beams D, the table top E, and the binding stripsF. All of these parts, with the exception of the top E, are preferably and conveniently formed of sheet metal or metal stampings. While the top E might also be metallic, it is pref-' erably formed from suitable fibrous material, as will be hereinafter described.

Each of the side frame members A is preferably formed from a sheet-metal strip rolled to shape, as best shown in Fig. 3. The member comprises an upper inwardly extending horizontal flange portion l and an outer downwardly extending flange portion 2. The outer vertical flange 2 may be given any desired ornamental configuration, in the present form beads 3 and 4 being rolled into the flange, and the lower edge being rounded into tubular form, as indicated at 5, thus avoiding sharp edge portions and adding rigidity to the frame. The upper horizontal flange i may be of any suitable width and its inner portion is depressed at 6 and then extended inwardly, as at I, so as to provide a ledge for receiving and supporting the binding strips F and the edge portions of the table top E, as will be hereinafter apparent. The end or corner portions of the frame members A are mitered, as indicated at 8, so as to provide a closely fitting smooth surface at the top of the table. The frame members A are secured together at the corners of the table by the legattaching yokes 9 which are riveted or otherwise secured at l0 to the vertical flange portions 2 of the frame members. Triangular corner plates I I are also spot-welded, as at l2, to the lower surface of the inner flanges l of the frame members. The flattened ends of the trusses or beams D are also spot-welded at l3 to the lower faces of these flanges l. Preferably a pair of these beams D extend diagonally of the table to connect the side frames adjacent diagonally opposite corners; A similar pair of these beams extend diagonally of the table at right angles to the first pair, the respective beams overlapping in any suitable man- 'ner beneath the central portion of the table top. These beams D are preferably in the form of sheet-metal channel members with the edges facing upwardly so as to form a support for the table top E. These beams also serve to further strengthen and rigidify the frame.

The legs B are preferably rolled from strips of end of each leg being enclosed and held in shape by a cap M. The upper end of the leg is pivotally' mounted on a pin l5 secured through'the opposite arms of the yoke 9. Each leg-brace C comprises a pair of similar struts I6 and I! which are pivoted at their adjacent ends within a short channel member I 8. The other end of strut I6 is pivoted to a leg B at l9, and the other end of strut H is pivoted at 20 to the vertical flange 2| on a plate 22 spot-welded or otherwise secured to the lower surface of one of the side frames A. When the table is erected with the legs B extending downwardly at right angles to the table top, the braces C will be straightened, or preferably bowed slightly upward beyond a straight line connecting the pivots l9 and 20 (the lower portion of channel 18 limiting the movement in this upward direction) so as to lock the leg against swinging inwardly unless the brace is broken downwardly at its central pivot by pushing downwardly on the center of the brace. If the brace is broken or bent downwardly in this manner, the leg may be swung to a position substantially parallel with the lower surface of horizontal flange I of one of the frame members A. This type of folding leg is simple and economical, but it is to be understood that as far as the novel table-top construction now about to be described is concerned, other forms of leg construction, either rigid or folding, could be used.

The table top E is in the form of a substantially flat square sheet or plate of a size to substantially flt within the several ledges 6 of the frame members A and rest upon the inner horizontal flanges 1. While this table top may be made of any suitable material, it is preferably cut to form from a comparatively thick sheet of paste board, fiberboard or analogous material. The upper surface of this board is preferably finished by a permanently or integrally attached sheet 23 of paper,

fabric, or other suitable material which may be colored, or stamped to give any desired ornamental appearance to the table top. This upper surface may be water-proofed if desired.

The binding strips F are each cut and bent or rolled from rather thin sheet metal to the initial form, best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The upper portion of the binding strip is bent or folded toprovide an upper horizontal flange 24 and a lower horizontal flange 25 connected at one side by the loop 26 so as to provide an inwardly opening channel or groove 21 for receiving the edge portion of the table top E, as shown in Fig. 4. A vertical flange 28 extends downwardly from the inner end of horizontal flange 25. The upper channeled portion of the binding strip is adapted to rest upon the frame flange I and be housed within the ledge 6 so that the upper surface of flange 24 will be substantially flush with the upper surface of flange I of the frame. When so positioned; the vertical flange 28 of the binding member will nd downwardly adjacent the inner edge of flange 1 of the frame. The ends of the upper channeled portion of the binding strip are mitered or beveled, as indicated at 29 and 30, so as to fit smoothly together at-the corners of-the table top. The vertical flange 28 is cut away at its ends, as indicated at 3| and 32, so as to avoid the corner plates ll of the frame, and intermediate portions of the flange 28 are also cut away so as to provide clearance for the plates 22 and ends of the beams D, as will be apparent from the disclosure in Fig. 2.

As the first stepin assembling the table top and 2,013,135 sheet metal into a tapering tubular form, the lower frame, the binding strips F are first assembled about the top E by slipping the upper channeled portions of the binding strip over the several edge portions of the top plate E. The top with the binding strips assembled thereon is then laid within the top frame so that the channeled portions of the binding strip rest within the ledges 6 and the flanges 28 extend down within the frame. The flanges 28 are then bent outwardly and clamped against the lower surface of the frame flanges I. Preferably, the flanges 28 are made wide enough to bend upwardly around the depressed portions 6 of the frame members and thus lock the binding members to the frame. These flanges 28 may be welded or otherwise secured to the flanges 7, but such additional securing means will ordinarily be unnecessary.

The upper channeled portions 21 of the binding strip will be made of substantial width so that i in case the fibrous top E shrinks, it may do so without pulling out of the channels 21. Ordinarily this shrinkage will not exceed one-eighth of an inch, so that a channel width or depth of one quarter of an inch will be ample to provide for this shrinkage without permitting the table top E to become detached from the supporting frame.

Preferably the table top E will be slightly rounded or bowed upwardly, just inwardly of the edge portion that is enclosed by the binding strip, as indicated at 33. This may be conveniently done by rolling or pressing a groove into the lower surface of the fibrous sheet, as indicated at 34. This rounded portion or bulge 33 will serve to deflect cards or other objects upwardly so that they will not catch on the slight obstruction presented by the inner edge 35 of the upper flange 24 of the binding strip.

A fibrous top of this type is not only economical, but is extremely light in weight so as to desirably decrease the total weight of the metal card table. This top also prevents the objectionable sounds resulting from a metallic table top resting on the metallic supporting members, and also deadens or prevents sounds caused by depositing hard objects'on the table top.

The metallic frame A and the binding strips F may be separately painted in different harmonizing or contrasting colors before the table top is assembled, and obviously the table top E may be of a third color. When the parts are assembled, the binding strips provide a pleasing stripe inwardly of and parallel with the edge portions of the table, and obviously a great many different color combinations may be provided.

I claim:

1. A table comprising legs and a top-supporting frame carried thereby, the frame comprising sheet-metal side members secured together to surround the table top and each having an inwardly extending horizontal flange, the inner portion of the flange being depressed and then extended inwardly to provide a top-supporting ledge, a substantially flat table-top having such a size and contour that it will substantially fit within the frame and rest upon the ledges, and metallic binding strips enclosing the edge portions of the top and secured to the flanges.

2. A table comprising legs and a top-supporting frame carried thereby, the frame comprising sheet-metal side members secured together to surround the table top and each having an inwardly extending horizontal flange, the inner portion of the flange being depressed and then extended inwardly to provide a top-supporting lower channel being clamped about the inner ledge-forming portion of the flange.

3. A table comprising legs and a top-supporting frame carried thereby, the frame comprising sheet-metal side members secured together to surround the table top and each having an inwardly extending horizontal flange, the inner portion of the flange being depressed and then extended inwardly to provide a top-supporting ledge, a substantially fiat table-top having such a size and contour that it will substantially fit within the frame and rest upon the ledges, and metallic binding strips each bent to form an upper channel portion which encloses and fits about an edge portion of the top and rests within the ledge of the frame, and a flange extending downwardly within the frame from the open end of the channel and then outwardly to clamp the binding strip and top to the frame.

4. A tablecomprising legs and a top-supporting frame carried thereby, the frame comprising sheet-metal side members secured together to surround the table top and each having an inwardly extending horizontal flange, the inner portion of the flange being depressed and then extended inwardly to provide a top-supporting ledge, a substantially flat table-top having such a size and contour that it will substantially fit within the frame and rest upon the ledges, and metallic binding strips each bent to form an upper channel portion which encloses and fits about an edge portion of the top and rests Within the ledge of the frame, and a flange extending downwardly within the frame from the open edge of the channel and then outwardly to clamp the binding strip and top to the frame, the ends of adjacent binding strips being mitered so that the upper flanges of the channels will fit --together to completely cover the edge portions of the top.

5. A table comprising legs and a top-supporting frame carried thereby, the frame compris ing sheet-metal'side members secured together to surround the table top and each having an inwardly extending horizontal flange, the inner portion of the flange being depressed and then extended inwardly to provide a top-supporting ledge, a substantially flat table-top having such a size and contour that it will substantially fit within the frame and rest upon the ledges, and

metallic binding strips reversely bent to form oppositely opening channels, the upper channel of each strip resting upon and within the ledge and enclosing an edge portion of the top, and the lower channel being clamped about the inner ledge-forming portion of the flange, the edge pertions of the top being bowed upwardly inwardly of but adjacent the portions enclosed by the channels.

6. A table comprising legs and a top-supporting frame carried thereby, the frame comprising sheet-metal side members secured together to surround the table top and each having an inwardly extending horizontal flange, a table-top resting on the flanges, andbinding strips overlapping the edge portions of the top and securing the top to the flanges, the top being bowed upwardly inwardly of but adjacent'the' binding strips to form a rounded bead substantially as high as the thickness of the binding strip.

"7. A table comprising legs and a top-supporting frame carried thereby, the frame comprising inwardly extending substantially horizontal flanges, a table-top adapted to overlap and rest upon the flanges, and metallic binding strips each bent to form an upper channel portion which encloses and fits about an edge portion of the top and rests upon the frame flange, and a flange extending downwardly within the frame from the open edge of the channel and then outwardly to clamp the binding strip to the frame, the edge portions of the top being bowed upwardly inwardly of but adjacent the binding strips to form a rounded bead substantially as high as the thickness of the binding strip.

8. A table comprising legs and a top supporting frame carried thereby, the frame comprising side members which are recessed on their inner upper surfaces to provide inwardly extending substantially horizontal flanges, a table-top adapted to overlap and rest upon the flanges, and metallic binding strips each bent to form an ,upper channel portion which encloses and flts about an edge portion of the top and rests upon the frame flange, and a flange extending downwardly within the frame from the open edge of the'channel and then outwardly to clamp the binding strip to the frame.

9. A table comprising legs and a top-supporting frame carried thereby, the frame comprising sheet-metal side members secured together to surround the table top and each having an inwardly extending horizontal flange, the inner portion of the flange being depressed and then extended inwardly to provide a top-supporting ledge, a substantially flat table-top of fibrous material having such a size and contour that it will substantially fit within the frame and rest upon the ledges, and metallic binding strips each bent to form an upper channel portion which encloses and fits about an edge portion of the top and rests within the ledge of the frame, and a flange extending downwardly within the frame from the open edge of the channel and then outwardly to clamp the binding strip and top to the frame.

GUSTAVE F. CORDUAN. 

